Self-closing safety pin



Oct- 26, 1954 R. u. JORDAN ET AL SELF'CLOSING SAFETY PIN ."5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 001'.. l0, 1951 [l] l, Il 111W/ 1N VEN TORS,

@w/wegri- Oct- 26, 1954 R. u. JORDAN ETAL SELF-CLOSING SAFETY PIN I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1951 INVENTORS, Pay. J/a/. BY my I. Jluw. ,f/ fifa/ways.

0ct26,1954 R. U. JORDAN Em 2,692,416

SELF-CLOSING SAFETY PIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed oct. 10,1 1951 MfM Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE SELF-CLOSING SAFETY PIN Boy U. Jordan, Beloit, Kans., and Andy I. J ordan,

Eaton, Ohio Application October 10, 1951, Serial No. 250,638

(Cl. 24l56) l Claim. 1

This invention relates to a safety pin and has particular reference to a safety pin wherein the prong is constantly urged to the closed position thus eliminating the possibility of an exposed sharp point which might increase the danger should a small child chance to swallow one of the pms.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a self closing safety pin suitable for use in infants garments. Said pin having a prong in which the urge of the spring which closes the prong is gradually reduced as the pin is moved from the closed to the fully open position whereby very little force will be required on the part of the user to maintain the fabric of the garment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a self closing safety pinihaving a prong which is resiliently urged to the closed position and having manually operable means whereby the prong may be secured against closing as the prong is being inserted into the garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self closing safety pin in which the urge of the spring which closes the pin is largely overcome when the pin is fully opened, so that very little effort will be required on the part of the user to maintain the pin in the open position while inserting the pin or prong into the garment fabric.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and efficiency of operation and adaptability for use wherever there is a possibility of an infant placing the pin in its mouth.

With these objects in View as well as other objects which will appear during the course of the specification referring to the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a self closing safety pin embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the safety pin as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is sectional view of a modified form of the safety pin wherein a Watch spring is used to facilitate the closing of the prong.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line Vl--VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a further modiication of the safety pin with the body member partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is another modified form of the safety pin with the bar or body member shown in section.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a further modified form of the safety pin with the body member shown in section, and with the prong shown in solid lines in the open position and in dotted lines in the closed position.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on line XII-XII of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a modified form of the safety pin with the prong thereof movable about a fixed post.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken on line XlV-XIV of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an elevated view of a further modified form of the safety pin with the body member thereof shown in sectional form.

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view taken on line XVI-XVI of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a View of a modified form of the safety pin shown in Fig. 15 with slight difference in the arrangements of the parts and with the body member shown in section.

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view taken on line XVIIl-XVIII of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a further modified form of the safety pin wherein the prong and bar comprises a single strand of spring wire.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on line XX-XX of Fig. 19.

Reference will now be had to the drawing in which Figs. 1 to 4 show a safey pin of the class described comprising a bar ID provided at one end with a housing I2 and at its other end with a keeper I4. Housing I2 constitutes a pocket It having an arcuate back wall I8, side Walls 20 and 22 and a top wall 24 which is formed downwardly at its front edge to present a stop 26 to limit the opening of prong 28 which is provided with oppositely disposed trunnions 29 by means of which it is pivoted for rocking movement in side walls 2t and 22. Prong 28 is pivoted intermediate its pointed end portion 3@ and its rearwardly extending end portion 32 to permit a teetering of the prong. When prong 2t is in the open position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1 the end portion 32 will be in substantially axial alignment with a post 34 iixed to back wall I8. A helically Wound spring 36 is positioned with its opposite end portions fitted on post 3d and end portion 32 of prong 23. It will be noted that spring :it is slightly offset to urge the prong downwardly to the closed portion as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the operator releases the prong 28 the spring 36 will spring to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to snap the prong 28 to the closed position shown in dotted lines. The prong point will be moved to the entirely locked position .within the sheath walls where the point will not be exposed and will be constantly urged to the latched or locked position beneath keeper I4. A stop 4B struck from the side wall of sheath I5 extends into said sheath in the path of closing movement of prong point 3B to limit the closing movement of said prong. To insure an easy entrance for prong 28 into sheath the two walls of the sheath are formed downwardly converging.k The sidewalls 28 and 22-of housing l2 have portions indented at 42 to permit of free movement of spring 36 therebetween however these side walls are some-A what iiexible whereby the operator by pressing against the side walls can exert sui'licient pressureagainst prong 28 to prevent aiclosing.l movement of prong 23 while prong 28 is being inserted into the fabric of the infants garment. These side walls are conveniently located so that they maybe easily engaged by the operator duringrthe.

be easily overcome by the operator as he movesy offsets 42 against spring 36.

It is apparent that this safety pin is so constructed that the prong is constantly urged to the locked position relative to the keeper whereby the prong point at rest is alwaysy completely protected by a suitable covering, which will eliminate the possibility of a child. swallowing an open safety pin.

Referring to the mode form shown in Fig. 5 it will be noted that the .operation and structure of this safety pin is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. l. This pin hasa bar 'provided at its one end with a keeper 52" and at its4 other end with a vprong 54 mounted for pivoted movement in the side Walls of housing 'by trunnions 58. Prong 54 is pivoted intermediate the` ends vto present a sharpened garmentengaging section 68 and an operating lever end portion 52; Mounted in housing 56 on a iixed stop 84 is. a spiral spring 66 having its'free end pivoted to lever 62 to urge section 68 toward the .closed position. It will be noted when section'is manually moved to the open position the lever 62 will be positioned substantially parallel-Vith the. extended end of spring 86 thus its urge to close the prong is at a maximum when it rests against stop 68. The action of spring 66 as it rewinds to move prong 54 to the closedA positionis ofjsuicient force to completely lockkthe safety pin. Offset 18 is so related to prong 54 that when the operator presses on sidewalls of housing 53 sufficient pressure will be exerted against prong54 to secure it against closing movement, while the pointed section 681s being inserted in the infants garment.

The modified form shown in Fig. 7 is rlikewise similar to the form shown in Fig. l and comprises a bar 12 having a keeper 14 at one of its ends and a housing 16 at its other end. Pivotally mounted in housing 16 is a prong 18 pivoted intermediate its ends on trunnions Blpivoted in the side walls of housing 16 to present asharpened prong 82 suitable kfor insertion through the vfabric of theV pressed and ready to expand and move prong 18 to the closed position. Stop serves to contact prong 18 to prevent the aligned parts to move pasti. dead center. thus insuring.4 the, return of prong 18lto-.the closed position. If the-'operator desires to hold prong 18 in the open position during the pinning operation he simply presses against the side walls of housings 16 to pinch arm 841'- betweenf the offsets 88 formed in said side walls., After the pinning operation is completed theoperator releases his grip on said side Walls and the tongue immediately moves to the closed position:

Thesafety pin shown in longitudinal sectional view in Fig. 9 comprises bar 92 having a keeper S4 at .its one end, and ahousing 93. at its other end."i Rivotally; mounted intermediate itsA ends in side, walls. of housing-9.6` or trunnions 98N is' a springwire prong lllhhaving afsharpenedprong forward section |02 which servesfto. penetrate.V the. fabric of a garment and; a substantially U-shapedrear end portion- |U`4-having a spring` coil |86 atits return bend, with a free end portion Hi8/.formed and'positioned to bear againsta'cam pin Hxed tohousingg'so that as prong |08" is-moved to the. open position as showrrin solidy lines in Fig. 9 energy will be stored up invv spring' coil |08 with end |08" sufli'cient to` urge prong |60to the closed position, 25 shown, in dotted linesin Fig; 9 when the prong isreleased. When prong |00 .is in the opened position ,this pin- |20;l cam Handspring. prong parts are so relatively positioned-that thespring urgetending to-close said prong willbe at a minimum. If the operator desires to hold prong Hiin the'operating position during the garmentpinning operator simply presses on the side walls ofhousingllV to press the. Wall offsets |83 i against prong portionv |84 wherebyit isheldagainst closing movement.

The modiedforrn shown in: Fig. ll comprises a bar ||2' provided atits one end with; akeeper" ||4.and.at' its..other end with; housing' ||6`: A`

resilientprong ||S.pivoted at itsY inner `end-.on

pin |20mounted in theside walls of housing It?" is oiiset rearwardly at; |22" to presentapair of spaced apart arms-` |24 and', |25' joined together by a spring, coil |28. Arm. |28 is sov arranged relative to arm |24' that as the sharpened end |30'I is movedto the opened position as shown in solidv lines in Fig. 11" the prong H8, willbe energized'to snap the end portion |3l"of' the prongV is at the open position pin. |2l^ and cam armA |24 andarm |26 will be spread a maximum giving a minimum spring action tending to ,close,they

prongl I8.

Safetypin shown inFigs. 13 `and 14 is very similar to these shown in Figs. 9 and ll the lprincipal difierencebeing that prongmember Mil-.is semifloating since its spaced apart. spring portions` |42, and f |44 .resiliently engage andfloat abouta post |48 xedin the side Wallsof'housinglfi disposed at one end of'a safety pin back bar |50.. The other end. portion of, bar |5. hasa keeper |52 which serves to receive the sharpened end portion5|54 of, said.prong. Spring portions |42 and |44 are joined together in substantially parallel relation by means of a spring coil |56 formed in prong member` |40. Coil |56 rides against the inside wall of housing |48 to maintain the prong portions in proper oating position on post |46. A stop |58 formed on housing |48 serves to limit the opening movement of prong |40 to a position wherein the parts are so positioned that a minimum tension is exerted to close the prong to engage keeper |52. The side walls of housing |48 are offset inwardly at |60 whereby during the pinning operation the operator may press inwardly on said side walls to cause offsets |60 to clamp prong section |44 to hold prong portion |54 in the open position. After the pinning operation is completed the operator releases said side walls and the prong member springs to the closed position.

The modified form shown in Figs. 15 and 16 comprises a bar |62 provided at its one end with a keeper |64 and at its other end with a housing |66. A prong member |68 is pivoted intermediate its end on trunnions which are mounted in the side walls of housing |68. Prong |68 is sharpened at its forward end |12 for insertion in a garment and its rear end portion extends rearwardly to bear against the free end portion |14 of a U-shaped spring member |10 which is anchored at |18 to the housing |66. As the prong |68 is moved to the open position prong portion |15 will ride along spring |14 until prong |68 is limited by stop |89 so that spring portion |14 will be exerting a minimum force to close the prong |60. This force will be built up as the prong is moved up to the closed position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15. Oifsets |82 formed in side walls of housing |66 serve to grip prong at |15 to secure prong |68 in the open position during the pinning operation by simply pressing against said side walls.

The modified form shown in Figs. 1'1 and 18 are quite similar to that shown in Fig. 15 with the exception of slight changes in the shape of the prong and the operating spring. The safety pin comprises a bar |86 having a keeper |86 supported on its one end and a housing |90 on the other end thereof.

The prong |92 is pivoted intermediate its ends by means of trunnions |94 mounted in the side walls of housing |90 the forward end portion |95 of prong |92 is sharpened for easy insertion into a garment, while the rear portion |96 is offset angularly relative to portion |95 to bear against the free end |91 of rearwardly extending spring |98 which is secured to bar |86. As prong |92 is moved to its open position it will contact stop |99 when it has reached a position of slightest urge to close the prong |92. However it will have built up sufficient energy in spring |98 to completely close and latch said prong beneath keeper |88. Offsets |81 formed in side walls of housing |90 are adapted to be manually pushed against end portion |96 of the prong to hold it in the open position during the pinning operation.

Fig. 19 shows a modified form of the safety pin wherein the bar and prong are formed from one continuous piece of spring wire so as to provide sufficient stability to the prong. I'his combined bar and prong is somewhat similar to the present safety pin made of wire, and differs materially therefrom in View of the fact that it is so constructed that the prong is energized to always tend to move to the closed position other than to the open position as is the case in the present safety pin. This pin shown in Figs. 19 and 20 comprises a single strand of spring wire 200 coiled intermediate its ends at 202 with its end portions 204 and 206 disposed in substantially parallel relation at one side of said coil. Portion 264 comprises a back or bar for the pin and 206 is a closing prong which is tensioned to always urge the sharp point 208 to a position beneath the keeper 2|0 formed in the sheath 2|2 carried by said portion 204.

A bar 2|0 pivoted by trunnions 2|6 to wire 204 serves to engage the underside of prong 206 to support it in the open position. A light weight coil spring 220 secured at its one end 222 to wire 206 and with its free end resting against the rear side of bar 2|4 tends to urge the bar to- Ward its forward position. However prong 206 is so formed that it is energized sufciently to be constantly urged to the closed position against the resistance of spring 220 to engage keeper 2|0.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have presented several forms of self closing safety pins which are well adapted for the purpose intended, and it is quite apparent that many other forms and modifications might be made that might properly fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A safety pin comprising an elongated body member having a keeper at one end thereof, a spring wire prong one end of which is adapted to engage said keeper and the other end of which has a substantially U-shaped resilient bend formed therein in the plane determined by said body member and prong, one of the legs of said U-bend being pivotally mounted in said body member on a transverse axis, whereby said prong is movable from a closed position in engagement with said keeper to an open position apart from said keeper, and a transversely extending cam pin fixed in said body member and engaging the inner surface of the opposite leg of said U-bend, said pin and said pivot being spaced apart sufficiently that said U-bend is resiliently distended, said pin and pivot being offset longitudinally of said body member whereby said prong is urged resiliently toward the closed position, the closed end of said U-bend being adapted, as said prong is moved manually to the open position, to be moved to a position approaching equidistant spacing from said pivot and said cam pin, whereby the spring force tending to move said prong to the closed position is gradually diminished.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 146,508 Bowers Jan. 20, 1874 206,896 Porter Aug. 13, 1878 380,896 Jenkins Apr. 10, 1888 465,863 Knoll Dec. 29, 1891 2,001,213 Pearson May 14, 1935A 2,057,006 Caccamise Oct. 13, 1936 2,084,480 Crandall June 22, 1931 2,138,869 Lockwood Dec. 6, 1938 2,145,313 Morley Jan. 31, 1939 2,359,115 Jordan Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 55,105 Germany Jan. 24, 1891 

